Ukraine intelligence reports Russia used upgraded Iskander missiles against Kyiv

Ukrainian military intelligence has reported that Russia used an upgraded version of the Iskander ballistic missile, known as the 9M723-2 or ‘Iskander-1000’, during a combined strike on Kyiv this summer.

The modernized 9M723-2 missile, which is part of the ‘Bora-M’ complex, features a larger engine and an increased launcher size compared to the standard 9M723-1 version. While the designation ‘Iskander-1000’ does not necessarily imply a 1,000 km range, intelligence estimates suggest the upgraded missile has a range of approximately 550 kilometers. This is a significant increase over the 390-kilometer range of the previous 9M723-1 model.

This increased range allows Russian launch units to be positioned further from the front lines while still maintaining the ability to strike targets such as Kyiv. The 9M723-2 missile utilizes a quasi-ballistic trajectory and can use both inertial and satellite navigation systems for guidance.